westlife4ever80, thank you for your review. I think drunk Ethan is feeling a lot less funny in this chapter! Zoe is starting to get a bit clingy - just like she was with Max. I think Max quite liked it, but I'm not sure Dylan will!

Tanith Panic, I love the idea of Ethan as a happy drunk even though he's not necessarily doing it for the best reasons. I think Ethan probably will want to return the trolley - you've given me an idea about that! I'm afraid Ethan is still sick, but not too graphically, I hope. Thank you for your review.

X-Sammii-X, I hope the site is working better for you now. I think the site has been less busy so maybe a lot of people are having problems. I'm glad you like drunken Ethan and mature Cal - it's a bit of a role reversal! There will definitely be more Dylan and Angela. Thank you for your review.

Ethan lay in bed, groaning.

He'd no idea what he'd been up to last night, but it was fair to say it involved alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.

The only good thing was that he (or more probably Cal) had had the sense to leave a bucket beside his bed.

Someone knocked on the door. It was probably quite a light knock, but it still made Ethan's head vibrate. He tried to tell Cal to come in. It came out as another groan, but it seemed to work.

"How are you feeling?" asked Cal sympathetically.

Ethan decided groaning was as good a method of communication as any.

"That bad?" said Cal. "I've been there, mate." He came and sat on the edge of the bed. He gestured towards the bucket. "You want me to empty that for you?"

Ethan started to shake his head but immediately thought better of it. "Might need it again."

"Have you had a painkiller?" asked Cal.

"Couldn't eat anything," moaned Ethan.

Cal started stroking his hair. "I think a painkiller would really help. Take it from me. I know what it's like."

Ethan whimpered. "Stop that. It hurts. Cal, I feel so awful."

"I know," said Cal gently. "I know you feel like you're going to die – and I know you're more than happy with the idea. But if you have the painkiller, some of the pain will go, and then you won't feel as sick. Then you'll be able to have some toast and that will make you feel-"

He stopped as Ethan went even paler and leaned over the side of the bed.

Cal expertly repositioned the bucket and then held Ethan's head. "It's okay, buddy. It's okay."

"No, it's not!" wailed Ethan, who seemed to have completely forgotten he was a doctor and reverted to being a little boy again.

"Okay. No. It's not okay," agreed Cal soothingly. He helped Ethan to sit up against the headboard.

"Cal, I want to lie down!" whimpered Ethan.

"I know, Nibbles. I know. You can in a minute." Cal picked up a packet of paracetamol from Ethan's bedside table and shook one out. "Open your mouth for me, Ethan?" He put the tablet into Ethan's mouth and then held a glass of water to his lips. "Come on, Ethan. Swallow the tablet."

"It might make me sick again," mumbled Ethan.

Cal stroked his hair away from his forehead. "I think you'll be more likely to be sick if you don't have it. Come on, Nibbles. Do you remember all those lectures you used to give me about drinking?"

Ethan just groaned. He swallowed the tablet obediently and slowly sipped the water.

"We'll wait a bit, then I'll give you another tablet if you need one," said Cal. He stood up.

"Where you going?" said Ethan, alarmed. He didn't really feel like being on his own.

"Nowhere," said Cal, getting his phone out of his pocket. "I'm just going to phone Mrs Beauchamp to say you're not coming in today because you're not well."

Ethan opened his mouth to say he was going to work, but the words didn't come and he came to the conclusion that Cal was probably right. "Cal, before you phone, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah. Sure. Anything," said Cal.

"Was I dreaming or did I bring a shopping trolley home with me last night?"

Zoe smiled at Dylan as they made their way into the ED. "Thanks, Dylan."

"What for?" he said, his mind partly elsewhere.

"For not letting me drink last night. It really is good coming in here without a hangover and with a clear conscience."

Dylan nodded, only half-listening. He was wondering if Angela went up to the pharmacy every day.

Zoe glanced at him. "Dylan, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," said Dylan. He thought for a moment. "No. I'm not fine. I have a slight sore throat." It was actually true, but he wouldn't normally have given it a thought, much less mentioned it.

He didn't know what bothered him more: the fact he'd broken the habit of a lifetime or the fact he knew exactly why he'd done it.

Zoe looked momentarily startled, then concerned. "Maybe you should go home. I mean, if you're not feeling well and actually admitting to it…"

Dylan shook his head. "I'm fine. I don't know why I mentioned it. I must be getting used to you."

"I suppose that's a compliment, coming from you," said Zoe. She smiled. "It's nice to have a compliment from you, Dylan."

Dylan stepped back. "I'm going up to the pharmacy. For some lozenges."

He wished Zoe wouldn't stare at him like that. She looked… well, predatory. "Dylan, wait. Why don't you come into a cubicle and I'll have a look for you?"

"No. No. I'm fine." Dylan moved quickly away from her.

By the time he'd reached the top of the stairs, he'd almost managed to convince himself that his flight was more due to a desire to escape from Zoe than anything else.

Immediately, he felt more… well, not exactly cheerful. That really would be strange. But less embarrassed by what he was doing.

And after all, he had a genuine sore throat so he had every right to visit the pharmacy if he felt like it.

He rounded the corner.

And stopped.

Angela was there.

She was talking to Ben Harding. They were both smiling. As Dylan watched, Angela leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Cal told himself that he was only being considerate. Angela was in a relationship with Ethan and it was natural that she'd be worried by his non-appearance at work. Normally, of course, Ethan would always get in contact to apologise for not being where he should be, but Ethan had been feeling so ill today, it wasn't inconceivable that it could have slipped his mind.

He decided to go up to the pharmacy to buy some painkillers (Ethan was getting through their supply very quickly of late). On his way, he passed Dylan.

There was something odd about him.

Something different from the usual odd things, that was.

He walked past Cal, apparently without seeing him. Cal turned to watch him go and slowly managed to work out what it was.

Dylan seemed to be in the grip of some violent emotion - and that just wasn't like Dylan. Even that time he'd lost it completely and walked out of Resus covered in blood, he'd apparently been reasonably calm. That was partly what had made it so disturbing.

The thought of Dylan experiencing emotion was certainly intriguing, but Cal decided to let it go for now. He had other things to think about.

When he arrived at the pharmacy, he spotted a familiar figure walking away. Unable to believe his luck, Cal followed her, but he waited until they were a short way away from the pharmacy before making his presence known. "Angela." He waited till she'd turned to face him. "Hey."

"Hey, Cal," said Angela. "How are you?"

"Yeah, I'm good," said Cal. "You?"

"Couldn't be better, thank you."

Cal had to admit she looked great. Unlike Ethan.

"Though I probably should be getting back." The words were accompanied by an apologetic smile.

"Yeah. Sure." Cal hesitated. "I was wondering if you'd heard from Ethan."

"No, not since last night," said Angela.

"Right," said Cal – and it came into his mind to wonder when exactly she and Ethan had said her goodbyes. Angela not only didn't look the least bit hungover, he also had trouble believing she'd been out on the town until 4am.

So perhaps she hadn't been. Perhaps it was just Ethan.

Ethan was spending the evening with his beautiful girlfriend and then going to the pub and getting sozzled?

Something was very wrong there. Why didn't he just spend the night with his girlfriend like a normal person? That was what Cal would do and Ethan was supposed to be trying to 'be more Cal'.

"Is Ethan okay?" asked Angela. She looked worried.

Cal looked at the floor as though that might provide him with inspiration. So, what do I do now? Do I tell Angela her boyfriend got drunk after their date and didn't come home till 4am? At one time, I would have done exactly that. All's fair in love and war and all that. Anything to give myself the upper hand over Ethan. But now, it seems… disloyal?

"Cal," said Angela gently. "You can tell me. If you don't want me to tell Ethan, I can keep it confidential."

She's offering to keep a secret from her boyfriend?

Or is he her boyfriend? Had Angela dumped him? Was that why Ethan had come home in such a state? But if so, why hadn't Angela mentioned it?

Or maybe she's grabbing the opportunity to get close to me…

Cal enjoyed that idea for several seconds before remembering that the girl trying to get close to him was his little brother's girlfriend.

"Cal?" said Angela.

"I just wanted to make sure you knew that Ethan's not in today," said Cal. He's not very well. Usually, he would have told you himself, but he really was feeling so awful when I left, it wouldn't surprise me if he forgot or didn't feel strong enough to pick the phone up."

Angela looked worried. "Oh dear. Poor Ethan. He seemed fine when I left him. What's wrong?"

Now, here's where you decide, Caleb. Do you stay loyal to your brother and lie? Or tell the truth and risk messing up a relationship he might, to be fair, have messed up already?

"A stomach bug, I think," said Cal.

"Oh, poor Ethan," said Angela. "I am sorry. I hope he feels better soon. I'll send him a text."

Cal smiled. Even if there was something funny about their relationship, Angela did seem to care about his little brother. "I'm sure he'd like that." As an afterthought, he added: "You're feeling okay, though?"

"I feel fine," said Angela. "You don't have to worry about me. I need to go, Cal, but thanks for telling me about Ethan."